The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-08-31
Signs of the Times.

r. The Editsr ef he HERALD
Il Is evident from latest reports that while
the Democrats are the strongest opponents of
the Republican party, the Prohibitionists
are its bifterest enemies that while the for
mer desire victory for It's Own sake, the lat
ter make the defeat Of the Republican par
" the supreme object and consideration Of
their efforts. and the latest platform of the
Pruhibitionisrs shows this in a clearer light
than ever
We expect to see in the platform Of each
political party clear, logical outline Of the
policy that party if placed in power pledges
itself to carry out The platform of the Pro-
hibition party contains no positive state
ment Of any proposed action except upon
the one question Of prohibition it Is alto
getiser platform of nesation and deHGneia-
ton.
But the consistency of these political
Pharisees is not always as obvious az their
peculiar self-righteousness, tor while they
cry OUT for religious liberty they deny the
principle Of il by making themselves judges
Of other mems consciences simply because
they differ from them in opinion, and ac-
eusing them of hypocrisy and completely
with evil doers because they have acted up
20 the best Of their Judgment in the duties
they were called TO perform.
The Pruhibitionists do not contemplate
such an emergency as being called to ad-
minister the government of the state or ma
ton in the near future II they did, they
would be more practical As it is they can
afford To let all questions Of how to govern
alone 'tis pleasant to air themselves IN
that delightful freedom from responsibility
which Is the lot of a party that has never
been IN power, and TO eFiticise tie measures
and impagn the motives of those uPon
whom the burden Of government rests; it is
80 easy % be- holy at the expense of other
mems sins. II reminds one Of an old story
OF two men that went up 10 the temple to
pray, etc.
The winter Of their discontent Is most
severe on the State Legislature for the PISS
sage of resolution for the submission to
ment prohibiting the manufacture aud sale
Of intoxicating liquors., because they say they
afferward nuIliieI il by the passage of a
high liceuse law.
Il ~ not easy % gather from the foregoing
clause what they really wanted the iegisla-
tsre To do. Did they demand that the leg
isIafnre after passing this resolution should
Immediately pass prohibitory liquor law
without that constitutional authority which
the resolution i intended 10 invoke and
without the sanction of the constituency
thar placed it in power? Or did they demund
low license or license W ithoui limitation. or
a virtual ignoring Of the matter altogether
The passage Of the high license law was in
every way consistent with the spirit Of the
resolution that preceded il 4 for this was to
place the greatest possible restriction upon
the liquor traffic until the proposed decision
can be rendered.
But TO the ultra Prohibitionists their own
hobby Is worth nothing unless il can be
brought about by revolutionary methods, By
casting aside all constitutional objections
and anticipating the popular verdict.
From these signs of the times II appears
that the Republican party is still the safest
guardian of the public veal the pilot who II
pest able 10 steer the ship of State, avoiding
the rock of fossiiized conservatism on the
one hand. and the whirlpool of chemical
--,di,.-.lisr, an, tn. other
FocIoN